I'm Betting On Danny

...to win American Idol this season.

He was my predicted favorite early on, until Adam picked up steam.

Yes, Idol is a singing competition, but it's also a likability contest.

Adam is technically a "great' singer, but now we simply expect to hear the perfect high notes and drama. The emotional connection hits us some weeks, but other times (like this week) it doesn't.

This is what will make or break him on the show.

Adam shouldn't have been in the bottom three last night, but the audience clearly heard what I did---someone with a great gift simply hitting their marks. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not going to short him though---as several of Adam's performances rank among the very best in show history. However, he's raised the bar so high early on that he'll need to slay us in each of the next three weeks---and that's becoming more difficult for him to accomplish as our expectations have been raised.

Danny was terrific Tuesday night. If he holds his own through the finals, he'll win. The tie always goes to the underdog.

Where Have I Been?

Still on the air, but otherwise busy. Or at least that is my excuse. I was:

• Working on my yard. It needs a little extra TLC this Spring.
• Recovering from preparing my own taxes. It's back to the accountant next year, or I'll do 'em in January. Don't like the last minute pressure. However, since I filed online we did get our refund within a week!
• Preparing a family estate for an upcoming sale. It's amazing how much stuff one person can accumulate.
• Answering questions as to when our sister station WARM would be back on the air. It's back---by the way.
• Beating another cold. I never get sick and have had four bouts with the cold and flu since September. I feel better now.
• Hanging out at our Bo Brothers Happy Hour Friday Nights 5pm-7pm. I hope to see you this Friday as it is my turn to host. (Bo Brothers, Wyoming Avenue in Wyoming).
• Working on my garbage man tan. (Short sleeve shirts, shorts). Well, I was anyway. Hope you enjoyed the sunshine.

A Taxing Situation

It is Tuesday April 14th...and I am finally done with my taxes!

For the first time ever I did them myself. (Thanks to online software).

While I feel pretty good about being finished, I don't know if I'd ever put myself through it again.

We had a little extra income from something on the side...and we decided to be honest and claim our profits. We'll sleep better for doing that. Another (new) deduction ultimately gave us our biggest refund ever---and this is a year we can use it!

A word of advice for anyone who files online for the first time---have all of the paperwork ready BEFORE you start. It'll make things a lot easier. I was skipping around and then running upstairs to the office trying to find papers. That's NOT the way to do it.

Next year, I may just take my list of deductions and throw 'em at the accountant---maybe even before April 10th.

Hope your taxes are done and that you are getting a big chunk back!

Where Did Adam Go?

If like us, you were away from your set last night and TiVo'ed American Idol, and may have had the same frustration. The show ran eight full minutes over, so Adam Lambert's ENTIRE performance was missed by many DVR'ers.

When Simon gives a standing ovation, it's got to be pretty special, so just in case you missed (or want to see it again), here's Adam doing "Mad World" from last night's show (for as long as the link holds up).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRNpPSUMqKA&feature=related

I predicted Danny as the champ early on with Adam as runner-up, but obviously at this point Adam is the clear winner. I also said Lil would end up in the top three. She could be going home as early as tonight---though I think Anoop may have that fate first.

A Long Time Ago

It was SO LONG AGO that I couldn't even remember what the exact date was, so I asked our Business Manager to check my file, and yes it's today...MY 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORKING HERE! (Boy, am I old!)

On Sunday April 2nd 1989, I began my employment with Susquehanna Broadcasting (the former owners of WARM and Magic 93). I was a senior at King's College, about a month away from graduation. I had been working at WILK Radio, but decided to leave because WARM and Magic seemed more promising at the time. Plus, my previous boss---someone named Frankie---had just begun the morning show on Magic 93 and said it was a good place to work.

So, I was initially hired to work part-time on WARM 590. WARM was the station I grew up with. I was nervous, but at least pulled it off enough not to be fired!

My first shift on Magic came suddenly a few weeks later. Chris Norton, our program director at the time (a great guy) called me at home around 8pm and asked if I would fill in on the overnight shift. You see, the night DJ (Kelly Reed) was sick and called off just before her shift. So, Fran Pantuso (then the overnight DJ) came in quickly to cover 7pm-Midnight and I would follow her. To this day, I believe it's been the only time I've seen Fran dressed VERY casual. She came in wearing sweats. Yes, they were nice sweats. I arrived around 11:00pm and did some quick training with Fran, in between her recording and playing back the love song requests and by midnight I was ready to go...if not entirely awake.

My first full-time shift on Magic came in 1991 or so. I was working for both WARM and Magic. I believe my schedule was this:

11am-2pm Music Director for WARM (we were re-doing the library and it was an extensive project)/Office Work and Production

2pm-2:30pm Lunch

2:30pm-5:00 Traffic (yes, we did traffic reports from the road---driving one of the WARM NewsCruisers in traffic! Reports aired on WARM and Magic.)

5:00pm-7:00pm Live on Magic 93

After that, I went back to WARM exclusively for a short time and by 1993 was full-time on Magic, first doing the full afternoon shift, then nights (as Chris went back on the air) and then all sorts of shifts between 9am and 7pm...and I've been bopping back and forth between middays and afternoons since late 1996.

To be honest, I'm actually surpised I can remember anything! Twenty years is a long time! Almost half of my life. Thanks for being there with me.

Best Moment of the Month!

It's April...time for yardwork, filing tax returns, Easter, baseball and (we hope) more outdoor fun. We already have a jump on those April showers, so don't forget your umbrella today. I always have one in the car---but never use it. There would have to be a monsoon. I'm a man---we're stubborn.

The highlight of my March (during vacation) was celebrating my dad's 80th birthday. Dad's in good health, and yes I know we're very lucky for that. We threw him a surprise party for his 70th, but he just wanted a nice quiet dinner for the big 8-Oh and we honored his request with a nice night out at Amici in Clarks Summit.

Each and every day I realize how much I am becoming more and more like Dad. We have many of the same mannerisms, personality traits and a good deal of the same interests. (Except for the snappy dresser part---Dad even owned a clothing store back in the 60's. I'm a bit of a slob).

I hope to be 80 and in as good shape as Dad---of course I though will know how to program the VCR...or whatever we watch then. :)

Love you Dad!